Rail-fastening.



J. H. MILLER.

RAIL FASTENING.

- APPLICATION man DEC-20' m5.

Patented Feb. 20, 1917;

2 snsns -snszr 1.

ATTO R N EY J. H. MILLER.

RAIL FASTENING.

APPLICATION FILED DEC-20' 1915.

1316,34. Patented Feb.20 1917.

'2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

I l I l /9 2/ 2/ WITNESSES ATTOH N EY JOSEPH H. MILLER, OF STERLINGTON, NEW YORK.

RAIL-FASTENING.

Application filed December 20, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Josnrn H. MILLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sterlington, in the county of Rockland and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail-Fas tenings, of which the following is a specification. f

My invention has relation to driven rail fastenings and as its primary object aims to provide a novel device of this nature that includes a specifically formed spike to be driven into the tie in a manner that will permit the subsequent positioning of the rail in place, and whereby they may be given a half turn to effectually lock the rail; and it further comprehends an improved rail plate or chair to cooperate .with the spikes so as to not only retain the same in a position to permit the free manipulation of the rail, but to limit the movement of the spikes when they are driven into the tie, in order that they may assume an advantageous position, and at the same time facilitate the proper manipulation of the spikes .when they are to be moved into engagement with the rail.

A further object of my invention is the provision of an improved device of the type in question that is extremely simple in construction, strong and durable, and highly practical both from the standpoint of the manufacturer and the standpoint of the user; and which, it is believed may be manufactured at a minimum cost.

Various other objects and advantages will become apparent during the continuance of the following description.

These and other objects which will become apparent are accomplished by such means asare shown in their preferred form in the accompanying drawings, describcd in the following specification and then more specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings wherein like characters designate like parts throughout the several v1ews I I Figure 1 is a view in cross section, showing my device as in its preferred embodiment, in connection with a rail and tie, of substantially the conventional form,

Fig. 2 is a view intop plan, showing a railbroken awayso as to illustrate more clearly the construction of the plate or chair,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 211 1917.

Serial No. 67,840.

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view of the rail plate or chair illustrating in detail the dished-out portion for receiving the heads of the spikes upon their initial engagement with the tie,

Fig. elis a view in. detail illustrating the improved spike, as in its preferred embodiment,

F ig. 5 is a similar view showing an insert that cooperates with the spike .shown in Fig. 1,

Fig. 6 is a view in bottom plan of a modified form of spike,fthat may be employed, and

Fig. 7 a view in top plan of a slightly modified form of spike.

In reducing my invention to practice, I preferably provide the tie 10, which may be of any desired construction, with a series of. openings or bores 11, adjacent the respective ends thereof or adjacent the point to which the rail 12 is to be positioned. A rail chair or supporting plate, such as designated in its entirety by the numeral 13, is to be associated with the tie 10, substantially in the manner shown in Fig. 1. This chair or supporting plate consists generally of a base 1 1- upon which the rail rests, that is of a width substantially greater than the base flange of the rail so as to project to each side thereof as shown in Fig. 1. lVhile not essential to the effectual operation of the device, the base 1st may be cut away as indicated. by the numeral 15 at a point preferably central so as to niinimize the amount of material used in the construction. A djacent its longit'lulinal edges, 1 provide the base 11 with upstanding enlargements 16, see Fig. 3) the inner facesl? of which are arranged so as to abut the longitudinal edges of the base flange of the rail,as clearly shown in Fig. 2. These enlargement-s are provided with through openings 18 at certain points which when the plate is arranged as to form a stopping shoulder 20, to one side ofthe openings 18 and channels 21 adacent each of the shoulders. The purpose rahty of spaced ribs are positioned on form of spike that may be used in comiection with the chair 13. This spike consists q of a shank 22 that is cut away longitudinally I "openings 11 of the tie.

a portion of its length, as indicated by the numeral 23, so as to provide a length 2-1 that extends eceentrically thereto. A pluthe length 24; of the spike and arranged to e vtendat an angle so as to slope in the manner as do ordinary screw threads. The ridges terminate short of the cut away portion23 so as to allow the smooth face there-' of to remain intact; while their upper, and

lower faces are cut at an angle, so as to provide'biting edges 26. The head 27 of the spike is formed to project from the side thereof opposite to the cut away portion J3 of the shank 22 and its under face is beveled as at 28 to fit snugly within the dished-out portions 19 of the chair and to engage with thestopping shoulders 20 thereof, such as will subsequently appear.

I further employ a number of inserts 29 thatare to be arranged in the openings 11 of the tie prior to the insertion of the spikes and are preferably fo'med substantially semi-circular when viewed in cross section in order that they may normally engage with the ribs 25 of the spike such as shown in Fig. 1.

In the operation of my. invention, the

chair 13 is first positioned on the tie so that the openings 18 thereof register with the then positioned'in the openings 11 of the tie to engage with the wall of the openings which'is toward the outer edges of the chair. The spikes are then driven into the position shown at the right in Fig. 1 until the head 27 thereof engages the stopping shoulders 20 of the chair. During the movement of the spikes the ribs 25 thereof will engage the inserts 29'so that the latter will not in any way bite into the tie. When the spikes assume this position, it will be seen that the rail 12 may be readily moved into place upon 7 the chair or removed therefrom, the spikes being in an inoperative position. However, when desiring to lock the rails in place,

. the heads 27 of the spikes are engaged with a tool such for instance as a prying rod or the like, so that theyinay be given a half 7 turn, and assume the position shown to the left in Fig. 1. Upon the turning of the spikes in this manner, the end of the tool is permitted to freely operate with the channels 21 of the enlargements 16 so that the maximum amount of force may be applied thereto without the liability of the tool becoming disengaged from the spike. Furthermore as the spikes move in this direc- The inserts 29 are,

sert when turned half around which forcesv the ribs 25 of the spike into biting engagement with the tire fiber thereby retainii'lg the spike securely in position.

Although as hereinbefore stated, that form f spike shown in Fig. at is the preferred construction used, the head 27 thereof may be constructed as shown in Figs. 6 and 7. By forming the head 27 in the manner shown in Figs. 6 and 7, it will be readily recognized that a wrench or a like gripping tool may be engaged therewith so as to facilitate the turning of the spike into an operative relation with respect to the rails.

From the foregoing it is believed that the advantages and main features of my invention will be readily understood and therefore further detailed description is deemed unnecessary.

In reducing my invention to practice, I find that the form referred to herein as the most practical and preferred embodiment is the most efficient; but realizing that certain conditions will necessarily vary in concurrence with the adoption of my device, I desire to emphasize the fact that various minor changes in the details of construction and in the arrangement and combination of parts may be resorted to when required without departing from the spirit and scope or sacrificing any of the advantages of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. The combination with a rail tie having openings formed therein, of a chair to be positioned on the tie to support a rail, said chair provided with openings to register with said tie openings, spikes to be positioned in the registering openings, and means carried by said chair to receive the heads of said spikes and normally retain the same in position to permit positioning of the rail on said chair or removal therefrom, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a rail supporting means, having openings formed therein, of a chair to be arranged on said supporting means to engage with the rail, said chair iaving openings to register with said firstmentioned openings, enlargements formed on said chair at each side of the base flange loo of the rail, spikes to be positioned through said openings, and said enlargements being dished out to normally receive the head portions of said spikes and retain the same out of engagement with the rail, as and for the purpose specified.

8. The combination with a rail tie having openings formed therein, of a chair to be positioned on said tie to support a rail, enlargements formed on said chair at each side of the base flange of the rail, said enlargements being provided with through openings to register with said tie openings, spikes to be driven into said openings, said enlargements being dished out adjacent each of said second-mentioned openings to initially receive the head portion of said spikes, stopping shoulders formed on said enlargements to limit the desired movement of the spikes, and each of the said enlargements having channels to facilitate the engagement of a tool with the heads of the spikes, as and for the purpose specified.

l. In a device of the character described, the combination with a rail tie having openings formed therein and a chair arranged on said tie to support the rail having open ings to register with said tie openings, of spikes to be arranged in said openings, said spikes being cut away a portion of their length so as to provide a shank extending eccentrically to the remaining portion, an insert to be positioned in each of said tie openings to engage with portions of said spikes upon their initial insertion in the tie, ribs being formed on the shank of said spikes opposite said cutaway portions whereby when said spikes are given a half turn said ribs will be brought into biting engagement with said tie, as and for the purpose specified.

5. The combination with a rail tie provided with an opening, of a spike of a diameter slightly less than the diameter of said opening, said spike having a portion of its shank cut away to form a length extending eccentrically to the remaining portion thereof, an insert, substantially semicircular in cross section to be arranged in said opening, said insert being engaged by ribs on said spike upon its initial insertion into said opening, said ribs having biting edges formed on the eccentric portion of said spike opposite the cut away portion, whereby upon the turning of said spike, said ribs will be brought into biting engagement with said tie to securely retain the spike against removal, as and for the purpose specified.

6. The combination with a rail supporting means having openings formed therein, of a chair to be arranged on said supporting means to engage with the rail, said chair having openings to register with said first mentioned openings, enlargements formed on said chair at each side of the base flange of the rail, spikes to be positioned through said openings, and said enlargements being dished-out to normally receive the head portions of said spikes and retain the same when in engagement with the rail.

7. The combination with a rail tie, of a ail supporting chair, a spike for connecting said tie and chair with a rail, and means carried by the chair to retain the spike in position to permit positioning of a rail on said chair or its removal therefrom.

8. The combination with a rail tie, having an opening therein, of a chair to be positioned on said tie and having an opening to register with said tie opening, a spike to be positioned in the registering openings, and means carried by said chair to retain the spike in position to permit positioning of a rail on said chair or its removal therefrom.

9. A rail tie' fastener comprising a spike cut away a portion of its length to provide a shank eccentrically disposed in relation to its remaining portion and having transversely arranged ribs opposite its cut-away portion, an insert for cooperation with said spike shank, and a chair having an opening for the passage of the spike and means for retaining the spike in either operative or inoperative position.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH H. MILLER. lVitnesses A. J. MILLER, F. J. CA'rHUs.

Copies 01 this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

